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Man gets stayed prison, probation, fines for assault on police

WILLMAR — Cody Lee Friese, 24, of Kandiyohi, was sentenced Tuesday to 13 months in prison, which was stayed, three years of probation, 190 days in jail and $2,500 in fines on two felony charges related to assaulting three Willmar police officers in December.

As part of his sentence handed down by District Judge Donald Spilseth in Kandiyohi County District Court, Friese was also ordered to pay $344.99 in restutiton, follow the recommendations of a chemical use assessment, attend counseling and follow his mental health directive and write a letter of apology. He was given credit for 113 days already served in custody and $950 of the fine was stayed for three years.

Friese had pleaded guilty in March to the charges of fourth-degree assault of a police officer for assaulting Sgt. Mike Markkanen, Officer Sam Neubauer and Officer Tony LaPatka at a Willmar residence. Markkanen suffered a concussion from blows to the head. According to previous information from Police Chief David Wyffels, both Markkanen and Neubauer were treated and released from Rice Memorial Hospital and LaPatka did not seek medical attention for his injury.

The charges were filed after Dec. 19, when the Police Department was advised by the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office that there was an arrest warrant for Friese for violating a no-contact order. Neubauer went to a relative’s home and found Friese, who fought with the officers and hit Markkanen in the back and the head, the complaint states. The officers called for assistance and Friese was finally restrained after the other officers arrived. The complaint says that La-Patka was head-butted by Friese when Friese lunged at him after he had been handcuffed.

Gretchen Schlosser is the public safety reporter, and writes about agriculture occasionally, for the West Central Tribune. She's been with the Tribune since 2006 and has 17 years of experience working in news, media and communications.